“Until now there has been no overarching strategy for our historic environment. These proposals are intended to ensure Scotland’s historic environment is understood, valued, enjoyed and enhanced - now and in the future.

“The historic environment is central to telling the story of our nation. It is right at the heart of our cultural identity and has a key role in defining Scotland’s place in the world.

“Too often we take the historic environment for granted, or assume it will last forever. In practice, the historic environment needs careful management and a clear sense of direction. It is a precious asset, capable of providing real and increasing benefits to Scotland’s people.

“Our historic environment is not simply stones, bricks and mortar. It is a combination of the tangible and the intangible – from buildings, landscapes and objects, to traditions, stories and memories.”

The draft strategy on the future protection, management and promotion of Scotland’s historic environment provides clear direction and a long term vision in terms of economic, social and cultural benefits, within the context of tightening budgets, physical threats from climate change, and technological advances.

The 12-week public consultation follows a fundamental review of the Scottish Government’s policy on the historic environment.

With the merger of Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) confirmed today by Ms Hyslop, Ministers also propose to establish a new Non-Departmental Public Body to lead and support the delivery of the strategy, drawing on the strengths, skills and experience in both organisations.

The new organisation is intended to be a more resilient, sustainable and effective body able to deal with the challenges and pressures facing the historic environment sector.

It is envisaged that the new body will have charitable status, subject to application and approval by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.

Ms Hyslop added: “The economic, social and cultural contribution of Scotland’s historic environment is important to our country. It contributes £2.3 billion annually to our economy and supports 41,000 jobs.

“There is so much potential within the historic environment still to be realised and we want to ensure the sector not only continues to play its part but increases its contribution to economic growth in Scotland. This new strategy and lead body will help us achieve that ambition.”

Cllr Stephen Hagan, COSLA Spokesperson for Development, Economy & Sustainability commented: “COSLA welcomes the publication of this first ever historic environment strategy for Scotland. We recognise the importance of the historic environment in contributing to a sense of place locally and nationally, as well as its role in supporting the wider economy. COSLA members will be looking at the strategy in detail and we will formally respond following our deliberations. However I am reassured that the key role of local government along with a range of other stakeholders in managing the historic environment is recognised in the strategy.”

Raymond Young of Historic Scotland’s Advisory Committee and former Chair of Architecture & Design Scotland, said: “The Historic Scotland advisory committee has been committed to helping drive the strategic direction and management of Scotland’s unique historic environment. We recognise the successes of both organisations to date and the valuable skills, knowledge and expertise of the staff and we want to build on that.

“We have an ambition to deliver Scotland’s historic environment strategy and the new lead public body which will deliver for Government, the sector, and the Scottish people now and in future generations.”

Professor John Hume, Chairman of RCAHMS said: "RCAHMS brings to the new organisation a magnificent tradition of skills, commitment and achievement. Commissioners are working with the Joint Chief Executives to ensure these attributes contribute to the transformation process and to the success of the new organisation."

Historic Scotland was created in 1991 as an executive agency from the Historic Buildings and Monuments Division within the Scottish Office. Its role is to undertake, on behalf of Scottish Ministers, statutory functions to protect and promote the historic environment. It also acts as a leader and enabler to ensure that the historic environment delivers economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits for Scotland. Historic Scotland cares for 345 historic properties and sites on behalf of Ministers, who hold them in trust for the people of Scotland. The organisation has approximately 1,100 full time employees. Historic Scotland’s grant from Scottish Government for 2012/13 was £40.3 million. Visits to Historic Scotland’s paid-for properties in 2011/12 were 3.4 million, with total income from paid-for attractions of nearly £32 million.

RCAHMS was established in 1908 by Royal Warrant. Its mission is to help people to value and enjoy their surroundings, provide a world-class record of the historic and built environment to local, national and international audiences, and advance understanding of the human influence on Scotland’s places from earliest times to the present day. It has 104 full-time staff (2011-12 annual report). RCAHMS also draws on 100 volunteer hours per week and supports 14 work-based learning trainees (largely funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund). During 2011-12, RCAHMS total incoming resources amounted to £6.5 million. Of this, baseline funding plus supplementary income from the Scottish Government totalled £4.6 million (71 per cent). The remaining £1.9 million comprised grant income for specific projects, including partnership projects, and income generated from commercial activities.

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